Unified switching fabric architecture

Abstract

A unified network and elements thereof, including a switch fabric, is provided. The switch fabric may include a plurality of transport elements and a first signal-communication media. The transport elements may be adapted to communicatively couple and to communicate, via the first signal-communication media, transport signals adapted for communication among any of the plurality of transport elements. At least one transport element may be further adapted to communicate, via a second signal-communication media, signals and / or sets of signal originating from and / or terminating to one or more network nodes. Each of the electrical signals may be formatted in accordance with a protocol for electrical signals. And one or more of the transport signals may include the electrical signals in adapted form. Additionally and / or alternatively, one or more of the transport signals may be formed from, or as a function of, the electrical signals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 317,249, filed Mar. 24, 2010, entitled “Unified Switching Fabric Architecture,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]The following generally relates to networking architectures. More particularly, the following relates to unified networks, and elements thereof, for vehicles, such as aircrafts, artificial satellites, spacecrafts watercrafts and the like. The following further relates to networking architectures and / or unified networks for other (i.e., non-vehicular) applications.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Aircraft avionics architectures have evolved over the past fifty years or so in response to developments in electrical, electronic and optical communication and communication media technologies. First generation avionic architectures were distributed analog systems. In these systems, signals were generated by s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024]The composite switch fabric may also include three switch fabrics. For example, a first switch fabric may be formed from a set of WDM switches and one or more links in the first signal-communication media (“intra-fabric links”) communicatively coupling the WDM switches. A second switch fabric may be formed from a set of core switches along with intra-fabric links communicatively coupling the core switches and intra-fabric links communicatively coupling the core switches to the first switch fabric. A third switch fabric may be formed from a set of signal-coupling edge devices and intra-fabric links communicatively coupling th...

Problems solved by technology

The above generations of avionics architecture may not be sufficient for the data capacity requirements in that, for example, anticipated data capacity requirements may overwhelm the capabilities of core switches.

This may exceed the switching capacity a core switch fabric on an aircraft.

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